“It’s crazy what you could have had” – R.E.M. As the World Cup finally will be hosted in The Middle East this year, the Northern Irish focus turns to Alistair Johnston – born in Canada but his ma is from Newtownards, it’s crazy what we could have had. He’s one of our own yet he’s… Continue reading Northern Ireland Footballers At The World Cup For Other Countries
Author: Jonny Blair
Jonny Blair is a Northern Irish travel writer, football geek, perpetual tourist and long term blogger. Jonny grew up in Northern Ireland but his global adventures have seen him live in Australia, Uruguay, England, Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Hong Kong. With 30 years writing experience, Jonny is a veteran writer with a taste for the unusual and quirky. Jonny's 150 country journey around the world saw him feed hyenas in Ethiopia, play football in Afghanistan, hitch-hike in Iraq and visit disputed regions unrecognised by the UN. Jonny is usually based in Poland but is never far away from another adventure and runs travel blogs in several niches.
A Song For Every Member of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2022 Squad
Bring yer songs. I decided to write at least one new song for each of the 23 players in the Northern Ireland Euro 2022 women’s squad and some generic tunes too. Get singing! See ye all in that there Southampton so it is. If you don’t know how the song goes, I have put the… Continue reading A Song For Every Member of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2022 Squad
That Time When Northern Ireland Were European Champions
“Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree” – Eurythmics. Ahead of our Northern Ireland women’s team appearing at their first ever major tournament – the European Championships in England in July 2022, here’s some inspiration for the girls. Before I was even born, and 6 decades ago…Northern Ireland were European Schoolboy… Continue reading That Time When Northern Ireland Were European Champions
Northern Irish Footballers Who Played For Australia
“I come from a land down under” – Men At Work. I have been to Australia in 4 different calendar years, in three of those I lived there, mostly in Poatina or Parramatta. In two of those, I watched Northern Irish footballer Terry McFlynn ply his trade for Sydney FC, where he became a fans… Continue reading Northern Irish Footballers Who Played For Australia
The Northern Ireland and Canada Football Connection
Could Alistair Johnston ensure a son of Newtownards is at the 2022 World Cup? At international level, Northern Ireland and Canada have an interesting history and connection. There are Canadian-born Northern Ireland internationals and Northern Irish-born Canada internationals. Not only that, the countries were both at the 1986 World Cup and have played each other… Continue reading The Northern Ireland and Canada Football Connection
Northern Ireland Football Internationals Born Abroad
I tried to add this one to Wikipedia but it was rejected as they didn’t believe me – Wikipedia are stuck up in their own ego thinking they know better than everyone else. They don’t – my posts were 100% correct so I’ll post it here instead and this means this page has more authority… Continue reading Northern Ireland Football Internationals Born Abroad
22 Northern Irishmen Who Were At Liverpool FC
“So ferry across the Mersey” – Gerry And The Pacemakers. I wrote this article partly because I got fed up with seeing debates recently about the fact that there were no Northern Irishmen at Liverpool etc. etc. etc. As usual, things are reported wrongly or twisted for their own minds, while the real football fans… Continue reading 22 Northern Irishmen Who Were At Liverpool FC
Northern Irish Born Footballers Who Were Capped By Other Countries
I buzz off the crazy stuff in football and travel. Wacaday republics on the brain. However, in life I usually believe that footballers should play for their birth country only. Of course, due to wars, fluke births when abroad, circumstances etc. many footballers choose to represent a country they were not born in. I was… Continue reading Northern Irish Born Footballers Who Were Capped By Other Countries
Northern Irish Footballers Who Played For The United States of America
“All these places feel like home” – Snow Patrol. This weekend sees, remarkably the first ever match at full men’s level between Northern Ireland and the United States of America. Down the years, it is hard to fathom that these two countries have never met before. It’s a staggering statistic for a football geek like… Continue reading Northern Irish Footballers Who Played For The United States of America
Northern Irish Footballers Who Played for New Zealand
“It feels like nothing matters in our private universe” – Neil Finn. Through the years, not every decent footballer born in Northern Ireland has played for Northern Ireland, or even opted to play for Northern Ireland. There are always the oddballs. For one reason or another, they have moved away from the mighty six and… Continue reading Northern Irish Footballers Who Played for New Zealand